Longendyke to compete at U.S. Olympic Trials

Augsburg College wrestler Donny Longendyke (JR, Vadnais Heights, Minn./White Bear Lake HS) will compete in this weekend’s U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials, after winning his weight class in Greco-Roman competition at the USA Wrestling Last Chance Qualifier meet in Cedar Falls, Iowa, last weekend.

Competing at 130 kilograms (286 pounds) at the Last Chance Qualifier at the University of Northern Iowa’s UNI-Dome, Longendyke won three matches to claim the weight-class title and earn a qualifying spot in the Olympic Trials. He topped former Cal State-Bakersfield wrestler Endhyr Meza (Army WCAP) in a 9-0 technical fall in his opening match, former Iowa State competitor Benjamin Durbin (Cyclone Wrestling Club) 8-2, and blanked USOEC competitor Pete Gounaridis (Army WCAP) 7-0 in the finals.

The U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials will be held at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa, this weekend. Competition in the 130-kilogram Greco-Roman class will be held on Sunday (4/10), starting at 9 a.m.

Longendyke has been one of the most dominant small-college wrestlers in the country during his collegiate career. A transfer from Division I Nebraska, Longendyke won the NCAA Division III national title at heavyweight in 2015 and finished second in 2016. Longendyke finished 39-3 with 24 pins, five major decisions and one technical fall in 2015-16. In his two years at Augsburg, he is 83-5 with 46 pins, 13 major decisions and four technical falls. In his collegiate career, he is 123-26 with 69 pins, 20 major decisions and four technical falls.